I get a lot of questions from my family and friends about my “job”.
What do you do all day? What is a blogger? What is it that you actually do?
While the answer is honestly too long to chat about in 300 words or less, if I could use one word to describe my job it would be: creator.
I am a business owner. I am an entrepreneur. I am a blogger. I am a personal trainer. All of these jobs require lots of different skills but the one I find myself focusing on as we close out 2019 and head into 2020 is the act of creating because at the end of the day, no matter how you look at it, I am a creator.
From working on fun and exciting photoshoots for my blog to creating new content and resources for my fitness clients, I’m constantly on the hunt for inspiration to spark my creativity. This so called “hunt” involves a constant change in my routine which is why I am so excited to be teaming up with Local Toyota Dealers to share a peek into my journey as a creator. I had the opportunity to give the Toyota Camry a spin a few weeks ago and jumped at the chance to switch things up for a few days. It was the perfect car to get me around town and fueled an entirely new level of creativity as I did a lot of planning for the new year.
So what does my process look like?
Step 1: Create a moodboard.
Whether I’m planning a photo shoot or branding for a new Fit Guide, I love creating a physical representation of what my vision is so I can reference it later. I search for concepts to help drive a sponsored project or pull together colors, patterns and photo inspiration for a fitness product and then bring all of my ideas together into one moodboard.
Step 2: Become your own stylist.
I refuse to spend all of my money on new clothes. My favorite way to “style” myself for a photo shoot is to shop my own closet. I’ll use my mood board to gather inspiration on how to wear “old” things in a “new” way. PRO TIP: pull your outfits together (steam, iron, etc.) the day before a shoot so you’re not stressed the day-of!
Step 3: Surround yourself with good people
I’m talking about the people that will empower you, inspire you and push you past your comfort zone. I always send my shot list and moodboards to my photographer before a shoot so we can conceptualize together. I’m not a one woman show. I love utilizing other boss women to help me fuel my vision and having genuine, hard working people in your corner is always a good idea.
Step 4: Balance the fun with the work.
I have to carve out time to do the work aka the not so fun stuff. Sure, creating moodboards and photo shoots is a lot of fun but 90% of my work as a creator involves me sitting at a computer or meeting with a new client or brand. One of my goals for 2020 is to set office hours for each day and work from a coffee shop so I can be the most productive. I’ve also invested in the software and education to help me run my business the way I want to run it without having to outsource/pay others to help (with most things).
Step 5: Become a multitasker.
Whether it’s changing for a photo shoot in the back of your Toyota Camry (that backseat legroom is a lifesaver) or bouncing from meeting to meeting, it’s so important to be able to multitask and be flexible. I start my week by reviewing my calendar, to-do list, appointments, deadlines, etc and hash out a plan to ensure I’m being effective. That sometimes means packing all of my stuff for the day in my trunk so I can avoid the wasted time running back and forth to my house. I’ll have my outfits for a photo shoot, my laptop and a change of clothes for a work session and them my gym bag and some snacks for a kickboxing class – stay prepared always. I love the bluetooth connection capabilities of the 2020 Toyota Camry. I could sync my phone to cal Naomi when I was running late to a photo shoot and hook up my phone’s GPS so I could navigate to my next meeting hands free. Don’t even get me started on the lane assist feature. Nothing is worse than Atlanta traffic. Having this system in place gives me peace of mind so even when I’m rushing to and from appointments, I know the Toyota Camry has my back – or, more like my sides.
What makes you a creator? Comment below!
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (“Toyota”) provided me with compensation and use of a Toyota Camry for a short period of time. The opinions I have shared about this vehicle are my own.
